[JENKINS-54681] dir('path') is broken when used within "docker.image().inside{}"

It seems that when 'dir' is used within a docker container, it is expected that the directory exists on the host and not within the docker container. The following minimal Jenkinsfile showcases this issue:

 

node('docker') {

    stage('Build within docker') {

// path to the workspace on the local machine and wthin the docker image

workspace = env.WORKSPACE

workspaceDocker = '/workspace'


image = docker.image("ubuntu:18.04")

image.pull()

image.inside("-v ${workspace}:${workspaceDocker}") {

    sh 'pwd'

    sh """#!/bin/sh

    cd ${workspaceDocker}

    pwd

    """

    // this fails with the following error:

    // java.nio.file.AccessDeniedException: /workspace

    dir(workspaceDocker) {

sh 'pwd'

    }

}

    }

}

 

 

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Originally reported by kvalev, imported from: dir('path') is broken when used within "docker.image().inside{}"

• status: Open
  
• priority: Blocker
  
• component(s): docker-workflow-plugin
  
• resolution: Unresolved
  
• votes: 0
  
• watchers: 1
  
• imported: 2025-12-07
  

Raw content of original issue

It seems that when 'dir' is used within a docker container, it is expected that the directory exists on the host and not within the docker container. The following minimal Jenkinsfile showcases this issue:


 



node('docker') {

    stage('Build within docker') {

        // path to the workspace on the local machine and wthin the docker image

        workspace = env.WORKSPACE

        workspaceDocker = '/workspace'


        image = docker.image("ubuntu:18.04")

        image.pull()

        image.inside("-v ${workspace}:${workspaceDocker}") {

            sh 'pwd'

            sh """#!/bin/sh

            cd ${workspaceDocker}

            pwd

            """

            // this fails with the following error:

            // java.nio.file.AccessDeniedException: /workspace

            dir(workspaceDocker) {

                sh 'pwd'

            }

        }

    }

}